History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley, Part 150

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 728

USA > Ohio > Jefferson County > History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley > Part 150
USA > Ohio > Belmont County > History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley > Part 150

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

FIRST CRIMINAL TRIAL IN JEFFERSON COUNTY-INDIAN WHITEYES KILLED BY THE CARPENTER BOY.

The following incident ocenred in what is now Columbiana county, but at the time it came to pass was in the limits of Jef- ferson. The circumstances of this incident are copied from Howe's History of Ohio, page 105, and are as follows :

"In 1797 a few families moved across the Ohio and settled in its limits (then Jefferson county). One of them, named Car- penter, made a settlement near West Point. Shortly after, Cap- tain Whiteyes, a noted Indian chief, stopped at the dwelling of Carpenter. Being intoxicated, he got into some difficulty with a son of Mr. C., a lad of about 17 years of age, and threatened to kill him. The young man upon this turned and ran, pursued by the Indian with nplifted tomahawk, ready to bury it in his brains. Finding that the latter was fast gaining upon him, the young man turned and shot him, and shortly afterwards he ex- pired. As this was in time of peace, Carpenter was apprehended and tried at Steubenville, under the territorial laws, the courts being then held by justices of the peace. He was cleared, it ap- pcaring that he acted in self-defence. The death of Whiteyes created great excitement, and fears were entertained that it would provoke hostilities from the Indians. Great exertions were made to reconcile them, and several presents were given to the friends of the late chief. The wife of Whiteyes received from three gentlemen, the sum of $300; one of these donors was the late Bazaleel Wells, of Steubenville. This was the last Ind- ian blood shed by white men in this part of Ohio."

MRS. REYNOLDS AND HER CHILD ARE TOMAHAWKED-FOR WHICH DEED SEVEN INDIANS ARE SUMMARILY DISPOSED OF.

Mr. James Simpson of Cross Creek village furnishes us with the following incident of local interest :

"In the year 1799, a man of the name of Reynolds lived on a farm now owned and occupied by William Dunbar, one and a half miles southwest of where Cross Creek village now stands. Reynolds had a wife and one child, a mere babe, and a black fe- male slave. In the summer of that year, Reynolds being from home one day, cight Indians came to his house, took his wife and child and black woman prisoners, taking what plunder they conld carry and started for the river in haste. Reynolds soon after camo home, finding his family gone and his house plun- dered. He gave the alarm and a party of whites were soon on trail, the Indians having killed tho black woman and sealped her soon after starting. Each party made the greatest haste, as the Indians knew well they would be pursnod, and were endeavor- ing to gain the river and cross beforo night. The whites knew if they could not overtake thein before they got across all hope of a rescue was at an end. . The river was struck, the sun being about an hour high, near Mingo, as that was the gonoral place of crossing at that day. The party of whites came suddenly up- on the Indians, who were in the act of making a raft to cross the river. Mrs. Reynolds was sitting close by with her habe in her arms. "The savages looking up saw their pursuors close at

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HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

hand and one stalwart Indian drew his tomahawk and with two merciless blows killed Mrs. Reynolds and her child on the spot. A deadly fight ensued. Seven of the Indians were killed, only one escaping, he having run up the river and could not be found. Some thought he plunged into the river and drowned himself. One white man was killed. Reynolds was almost distracted. His wife and child were buried near where the fight took place, but no monument ever marked their resting place. Reynolds would never again live on the farm, but sold to Joseph Patter- son, who afterwards became the Rev. Joseph Patterson, of Rac- coon church. The whites who were in the encounter were the Rev. Thomas Marquis, his brother, and Robert McCurdy. The two latter are buried in the old grave yard at Cross Creek."

A RACE FOR LIFE.

"Among a number of other quite interesting incidents of early times about Steubenville, related at a meeting of the Pioneers' Association, was one narrated by Mr. Nathaniel Mills of Josiah Davis, which is illustrative of the perils of those times, which so sorely " tried men's souls" :

"In those early days all the salt procured by the settlers in this vicinity was transported from Baltimore on horseback, and in return for it the people dug up through the forests here large quantities of ginseng, for which at that time there was great demand in the market of Baltimore. At the time in which this incident happened there were no settlers upon this side of the river ; but when there were no rumors of Indians about, those on the other side were frequently in the habit of crossing from the settlement at the fort to gather "sang root," as it was then popularly known, on the hills back of our city. At the time of the occurrence we are about to relate, Josiah Davis, of whom many of our older citizens have heard, and who was then a young man, in company with a number of others had crossed in canoes and proceeded to a little clearing, upon what is now the farm owned by John Bustard, for the purpose of laying in a supply of this marketable vegetable. The manner of digging it was by sharpening a long stick with which the root was pried up from its native earth and afterwards being dried was ready for transportation. The party had reached the clearing, but only two had entered into it, young Davis and an old man named Anderson. The old man had kneeled down on the ground and was busy at his work, and Davis was standing by him engaged in sharpening his stick, when suddenly a wild whoop was ut- tered, two rifles rang out on the air, and old man Anderson fell a corpse over his work, but Davis was nntonched. The re- mainder of the party, the savages did not appear to have seen, and they broke for their canoes and hurriedly crossed the river, reporting the tidings to the distracted families at the settlement that Anderson and Davis had both fallen under the bullets of the savages. This was incorrect, however. At the moment old man Anderson fell, Davis realized the dangerous situation at once, and being exceedingly fleet on foot, and determined to lead the savages off the trail of his companions, darted into the for- ests in a southerly direction, heading towards what is now Jack- sonville. Then began a fearful race for life between this un- armed boy and the band of screeching, blood-thirsty demons that were after him, whose terrific yells as they rent the forest would have frozen to stone the heart of our modern youth with terror. Twice after the start did his pursuers get sight of him and send the leaden messengers of death on its errand, but God's hand shielded this brave lad who was so nobly striving to save his com- panions from massacre, by misleading the howling heathen who were on his path. Fortunately through the thickness of the forest, he succeeded in out distancing them and throwing them off his track, and he finally reached the river near the present site of the rolling mill, into which he sprang and swam safely across. His friends were shortly afterwards greatly astonished and heartily gratified to see him bound into the cabin, with his knife still open in one hand and the stick he had been whittling in the other, both of which in all of this terrible race for life, and his long dive through the river, he had never dropped from his hands."

HOW HE LOST HIS HORSES AND ALSO;HIS LIFE.

In January, 1785, when a gathering was called at Fort Mc- Intosh, at the mouth of Big Beaver, to sign the treaty, the fa- mous Indian, Joe White Eyes, experienced a want of horses to convey himself and followers thither, to obviate which he pro- ceeded to the farm of a man named Sullivan, below what is now known as La Grange. Here he took all the animals he could

find and departed. Sullivan soon afterwards discovering his loss, called his dog and gave chase after the horse thief. Com- ing close upon him the dog began to raise a considerable com- motion, when White Eyes leveled his piece and shot the unfor- tunate man to the ground, continuing his journey with the horses. Speaking to another white settler on the subject, some time afterwards, White Eyes remarked : " He must have been a fool ; he knew he was in danger when the dog kicked up so, and he knew I was not going to be thus detected, therefore he compelled me to shoot him-I couldn't help myself."

AN IRISHMAN'S ADVENTURE.

The following, from a scrap book to which we have had ac- cess, was published in one of the newspapers of this vicinity :

" Our early times were times of considerable trouble and dis- comfort among the people, and yet they had many occasions to celebrate in which the full sum of rejoicing was made manifest, and even in the very midst of danger events often happened of the most ludicrous character. An old citizen related to us a cir- cumstanee that transpired near old Fort Edgerton, across the river, that admirably illustrates the fact that in whatever posi- tion an honest Irishman is placed he generally manages to make the best of it possible.

"One day about the close of the last century, a number of horsemen were heard in the vicinity of the fort, and the suspi- eion being strong that they were Indians, a large scouting party left the fort, under a famous scout named Slaughter, in the evening to reconnoitre along the trail. After proceeding some distance without meeting any signs of the braves, they saw that night would soon overtake them, and not wishing to spend it in the forests in those perilous times, they resolved to return to the fort and next day would make a further reconnoitre. Shortly after turning back they came to a small log cabin, which, al- though a quiet, eozy and comfortable spot, was then tenantless. Now with the party was a stalwart Irishman who had but late- ly come from the old country, and who had but a day or two be- fore arrived at the fort, not yet having had the satisfaction of seeing an Indian in full war costume. The Irishman, when he arrived at the hut and seeing how comfortable looking it was, determined he would go no further, but would spend the night there until his companions would return in the morning. No amount of dissuasion by his companions could change his deter- mination, so they moved off and left him in his quarters. A large fireplace was in one corner of the cabin, and overhead a few slabs were stretched along the joist, up to which, after eat- ing his little lunch, the Irishman climbed and stretched himself for slumber. He was soon wrapped comfortably in the arms of Morpheus and his dreams were doubtless of the far off Erin land, when he was suddenly awakened by a loud jabbering of voices outside, and immediately afterwads the door was opened and a number of parties came in, set their guns down in a corner and proceeded to kindle a fire and cook some eatables. The Irish- man knowing full well that it was a band of redskins, maintained a deathly stillness for some time, but curiosity over- came the more discreet impulses of his nature, and he deter- mined to take just one peep at the " reds " to see what manner of men they were. No sooner thought of than he put his pro- ject in execution and began to climb quietly along the slab he was on to make an observation. He reached the end, stretched himself cautiously over to take a look, when the treacherous slab uptilted and landed the Hibernian right in the middle of the circle. He had hardly touched the floor till he bounded up again and yelling, " Be Jasus ye are all prisoners," stretched his brawny arms for a fight. The astounded troop of redskins, how- ever, whose superstitious fears made them imagine that the huge mass of humanity was some thunderbolt hurled by the arm of the Great Spirit, broke out from the cabin with hideous yells and darted into the obscurity of the forest, leaving their guns in the hut. There was no more sleep for " Pat " that night, who remained faithfully at his post, blockading the door, and in the morning he was found in sound condition by his friends, to whom he turned over quite a number of guns and other Indian accou- trements. What, in a large degree substantiates the foregoing, we have learned direct from the lips of one Susan Potts, (else- where referred to) who was a prisoner with the Indians at the time in Detroit, that she saw the same squad of redskins on their return to their chief at that place, when he severely admon- ished them and asked where they had left their arms, to which they replied that they went into a hut to spend the night and when about to retire, like a thunderbolt from above, a white man fell from the upper floor-the whole roof was alive with white men-and they had to run for their lives."

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HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

PIONEER ECHOES.

During the Revolutionary war, Jacob Holmes was a regular spy engaged between Pittsburgh and Wheeling.

George Cox was a scout in this section, and first came out with his father from the old Redstone fort, about 1770. They toma- hawked their way from Buffalo creek to Cross creek, on the Virginia side, where they slept at night. On awaking in the morning, however, they heard roosters crowing in the direction of Mingo Bottom, when they ascended the hill near by and ob- served an Indian camp in the distance. It was enough, and beat a hasty retreat to the fort. They came out again, however, in about two years, when George proved himself a competent scout, and the father settled on land near Wellsburg.

There was a sugar orchard at Battle run, the spot where Bus- kirk engaged the Indians, in which Mr. George Adams and a Mr. Andrew Buchanan fell a large tree in 1828-9, and on sawing it in two found that right in the heart of the trunk they had cut through a large leaden ball, an ounce in weight, supposed to be a " naturally preserved " relic from the famous fight that has made that spot so memorable.

The first mill constructed on Cross creek was built by Robert and Andrew Wilson. It was not larger than an average sized wash house, and stood within a mile of Mingo. It was after- wards bought by James and John Boyd, and notwithstanding a suitable mill has since been erected in close proximity, the old one still stands close by, a relict of bygone days. The second mill was erected in 1803, by Capt. Teel, for Bazalecl Wells, on Wells' run, near the Jefferson iron works.

About two years ago, at the mouth of Short Creek there were no fewer than seventeen skeletons exhumed, affording unques- tionable evidence of an Indian burial ground thereat.

In 1818 a severe storm struck Steubenville. It came in a vein down Wells' run, carried a small empty frame house from Church street on to Market street, and also dislodged the roof of the paper mill, which it deposited in the river.

During the latter part of last century a block house stood precisely at the mouth of Battle Run, 1 mile from Lagrange and 8 miles from Steubenville, and close to the same spot there still stands an unexplored mound.

Mr. Benjamin Kneff's son and daughter, residing on George's Run, below Mingo, have, in the past few years discovered some extraordinary large teeth. One is probably five or six inches in length and nearly two inches in diameter, and the others are nearly so large, but differ much in their appearance. The larger one was dug up from a depth of four feet, near Mingo furnace, while some were found by the side of the stream in George's Run. It is far beyond our experience to place them.

The pioneers of old would seem to have possessed a wonderful faculty for making bargains-especially with the Indians. As an instance, it may not be generally known, yet unquestionably asserted that Richard Wells, better known by the cognomen of " Grey-Beard" Wells, purchased from the Indians the entire frontage of the Virginia Hill, fronting Steubenville, from Clark's Run to the Old paper mill coal banks, just below the R. R. bridge-a distance of two miles-for two bottles of whiskey.

We learn from one who was present, that about the year 1800 Mr. Richard Wells, Bazalecl Wells and wife, with Mr. John Ward and wife, availed themselves of a beautiful summer's eve- ning, and took a promenade on the levee, at that time-now known as Water street, Steubenville. As they sauntered about, Mr. Wells, (popular as " Grey-Beard" Wells) was toying with his rifle, which was his inseparable companion, when the party were surprised to hear the "toot" of an Indian. Looking across the river they observed a lusty red skin had taken up his posi- tion on a very large stone near the ferry and was making offen- sive gestures at the ladies, which so moved the vencrable pio- neer's sense of decency, that he loaded his unerring weapon and in half a minute the offender had turned an involuntary sommer- sault into the water and was floating down the stream to rise no more.

Some years ago, while Mr. Frank Wells was in conversation with a Mr. John Carrol, on the corner of Third and South streets, he was told by the latter gentleman that the lot adjoin- ing his own had been sold for taxes, and according to the records, the only title given to it was given by the county, hence the heirs could recover it on presentation of the original title. This Mr. Wells objected to, experiencing-no doubt in his own mind that 55-B. & Cos.

it had been sold legally by his father. But to satisfy himself, on his return home he looked up a small book that had been Jeft to him, among other old documents, by his father, when he dis- covered in the list of original lots sold by the old gentleman an entry to the effect that he had exchanged the lot in question for a rifle, valucd at $13.

The famous merino sheep were introduced into the state of Ohio about 1816 or 1817, by Bazaleel Wells, of Steubenville, who, we are informed on the most reliable authority, gave $700 for the buck and $300 to $400 for the ewe, but several years subse- quent, the stock became so common that $50 for stock animals was frequently accepted.

A COUPLE OF INTERESTING OLD LADIES.

The Steubenville Herald, September 22, 1876, says : There are two ladies, residents of Ohio, now on a visit to Mr. Nathaniel Wells, of this county, aged 87 and 94 years. Mrs. Jemima Cro- gan, the eldest, spent her youthful days with her father's family, Nathaniel Davis, Sr., near Holliday's Cove in the days of In- dian depredations among the settlers, when her family, with others, frequently sought safety by fleeing to Fort Edgington. She can well remember, and relate with much correctness and feeling, many thrilling events in pioneer life in the latter part of the last century. Mrs. Crogan was married to Col. William Crogan in the year 1805. This William Crogan was a brother . to Major George Crogan, the celebrated youth of twenty-one years, who in 1813, during the war with England, successfully defended Fort Stevenson at Lower Sandusky, with 160 privates against a combined force of English and Indians of 4,000 strong, under General Proctor, whom he repelled with fearful slaughter, his stratagem being so well planned and executed that he lost but one killed and five or six wounded.

Mrs. Sarah Davis, the younger, was a daughter of Capt. Thos. Graham, a veteran of the Revolution, who fought in many bat- tles and received many wounds, but survived and lived to a round old age, and enjoyed the liberty he so bravely fought for. He died near Holliday's Cove. His daughter, Sarah, was mar- ricd in 1810, to the late Nathaniel Davis, Jr., of this county. She now resides with her daughter, in Ohio. Both these ladies are enjoying good health and enjoying themselves as happily as two young girls on a centennial excursion.

LIST OF OFFICERS.

CONGRESSMEN.

The several districts in which Jefferson county has been placed was represented by the Honorable gentlemen in the subjoined list. The first congressional district comprised the entire state, which remained unchanged for ten years. The second appor- tionment comprised six districts, and Jefferson was placed in the fourth. In the third apportionment comprising fourteen dis- tricts, it was in the eleventh. The fourth apportionment which divided the state into nineteen districts threw it in the last one. Twenty-one districts were made in the fifth apportionment, then it was in the seventeenth. In the sixth, it was in the twenty- first and last district. In the seventh, nineteen districts, it was in the seventeenth. In the eighth, twenty districts, it is in the sixteenth district.

VIII. Congress-from 1803 to 1805, Jeremiah Morrow.

IX. Congress-from 1805 to 1807. Jeremiah Morrow,

X. Congress-from 1807 to 1809, Jeremiah Morrow.

XI. Congress-from 1809 to 1811, Jeremiah Morrow.

XII. Congress-from 1811 to 1813, Jeremiah Morrow. XIII. Congress-from 1813 to 1815, James Caldwell. XIV. Congress-from 1815 to 1817, James Caldwell.

XV. Congress-from 1817 to 1819, Samnel Herrick. XVI. Congress-from 1819 to 1821, Samuel Herrick.

XVII. Congress-from 1821 to 1823, John C. Wright and David Chambers .*

XVIII. Congress-from 1823 to 1825, John C. Wright.

XIX. Congress-from 1825 to 1827, Jolin C. Wright. XX. Congress-from 1827 to 1829, John C. Wright.

*J. C. Wright resigned and his place was filled by David Chambers of Muskingum,

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HISTORY OF BELMONT AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES.

XXI. Congress-from 1829 to 1831, John M. Goodenow and H. H. Lcavitt .*

XXII. Congress-from 1831 to 1833, H. H. Leavitt.

XXIII. Congress-from 1833 to 1835, H. H. Leavitt and Daniel Kilgore.t

XXIV. Congress-from 1835 to 1837, Daniel Kilgore. XXV. Congress-from 1837 to 1839, Daniel Kilgore and Henry Swearingen.#

XXVI. Congress-from 1839 to 1841, Henry Swearingen. XXVII. Congress-from 1841 to 1843, Samuel Stokely. XXVIII. Congress-from 1843 to 1845, William McCauslin. XXIX. Congress-from 1845 to 1847, George Fries. XXX. Congress-trom 1847 to 1849, George Fries. XXXI. Congress-from 1849 to 1851, Joseph Cable. XXXII. Congress-from 1851 to 1853, Joseph Cable.

XXXIII. Congress-from 1853 to 1855, Andrew Stewart. XXXIV. Congress-from 1855 to 1857, John A. Bigham. XXXV. Congress-from 1857 to 1859, John A. Bigham. XXXVI. Congress-from 1859 to 1861, John A. Bigham. XXXVII. Congress-from 1861 to 1863, John A. Bigham. XXXVIII. Congress-From 1863 to 1865; Ephraim R. Eck- ley. XXXIX. Congress-From 1865 to 1867, Ephraim R. Eckley. XL. Congress -- From 1867 to 1860 Ephraim R. Eckley. XL1. Congress-From 1869 to 1871, Jacob A. Ambler. XLII. Congress-From 1871 to 1873, Jacob A. Ambler. XLIII. Congress-From 1873 to 1875, Lorenzo Danford. XLIV. Congress-From 1875 to 1877, Lorenzo Danford. XLV. Congress-From 1877 to 1879, Lorenzo Danford. XLVI. Congress-From 1879 to 1881, Jonathan T. Updegraff

STATE SENATORS.

The first General Assembly of Ohio, convened at Chillicothe, on the first Tuesday of March, 1803. On the 2d day of Decem- cember, 1816, the first General Assembly convened at the per- manent seat of government at Columbus. The following is a list of members representing Jefferson county :

1803-Zenas Kimberly, Bazaleel Wells, (March). Bazaleel Wells, (December session).

1804-John Milligan and James Pritehard.a.

1805-James Pritchard and Benjamin Hough.a

1806-Benjamin Hough and John Taggart. .

1807-John Mclaughlin, John McConnell,a (latter to fill un- expired term of Wm. McFarland).

1808-John Mclaughlin and Thomas Elliott.

1809-John Mclaughlin and Thomas Elliott.

1810-John Mclaughlin.

1811-James Pritchard and Daniel Welch.

1812-James Pritchard and James McMillan.

1813-James McMillan and John Mclaughlin.

1814-John Mclaughlin and Samuel Dunlap.b

1815-John Mclaughlin and Samuel G. Berryhill.b

1816-John Mclaughlin.

1817-John Mclaughlin.

1818 -- John Mclaughlin.

1819-John Mclaughlin.

1820- John Mclaughlin.

1821-David Sloan.

1822-David Sloan.

1823-David Sloan.

1824-David Sloan.

1825-William Lowry.

1826-William Lowry.

1827-Humphrey H. Leavitt.

1828-Humphrey H. Leavitt.

1829-Henry Swearingen.

1830-Henry Swearingen.

1831-Andrew McMechan.

1832-Andrew McMechan.

1833-Andrew McMechan.

1834-Andrew McMechan.

1835-Andrew McMechan.

1836-Andrew McMechan. 1837-Samuel Stokely.

"John M. Goodenow resigned April14, 1830. In November following H. H. Leavitt was elected for the vacancy.

+Humphrey H. Leavitt resigned July 10, 1834, to accept the office of Judge of the United States District Court for Ohio, and on October the 18, 1834, Daniel Kilgore was elected for the vacancy.

#Daniel Kilgore resigned in 1838, and Henry Swearingen was elected for the vacancy.

1838-Samuel Stokely.

1839-James Mitehell.

1840-James Mitchell.

1841-James Mitchell.c

1842-Ephraim R. Eckley.c

1843-Ephraim R. Eckley.c

1844-Ephraim R. Eekley.c

1845-John Hastings.b

1846 - John Hastings.b 1847-John Hastings.b

1848-Pinckney Lewis.b

1849-Pinckney Lewis.b

1850-Pinckney Lewis.b

1852-James McKinney,a

1854-Joseph F. Williams.a.

1856-J. D. Cattell.a

1858-Joseph C. McCleary.a

1860-Anson L. Brewer.a

1862-Robert A. Sherrard.a

1864-Norman K. Mckenzie.a

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History of Belmont and Jefferson Counties, Ohio, and incidentially historical collection pertaining to border warfare and the early settlement of the adjacent portion of the Ohio Valley, Part 150

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 728

Author: Caldwell, J. A. (John Alexander) 1n; Newton, J. H., ed; Ohio Genealogical Society. 1n
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Wheeling, W. Va. : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 728